Trump’s Defense Secretary Nominee Reportedly Paid Accuser to Preserve Fox News Employment, Denies Allegations

The lawyer representing President-elect Donald Trump’s selection for defence secretary has informed CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that his client compensated a woman who accused him of sexual assault. This payment was made to ensure her silence and prevent him from risking his position at Fox News. Pete Hegseth, a host at Fox, denies any misconduct and asserts that the sexual encounter was consensual. His attorney conveyed to CBS that Mr. Hegseth made a confidential financial settlement because he feared being dismissed from his role at the news network. The lawyer added that this arrangement deterred the woman from proceeding with a lawsuit. Timothy Parlatore, the lawyer, explained that the woman and her attorney understood that filing a lawsuit “would cause an immediate horror storm for [Hegseth].” He told CBS, “The reality is that, had they filed [a lawsuit], civil process takes quite a while, and so Fox News likely would have fired him based on the allegation.” Hegseth’s lawyer had previously confirmed that California officials investigated him in 2017 concerning a sexual assault allegation, though he was never arrested or charged. This recent information surfaces just days after Trump designated Hegseth as his choice for defence secretary. If confirmed by the US Senate, the 44-year-old veteran would assume his first political role, overseeing the world’s most powerful military. Mr. Parlatore informed CBS that he had communicated with Trump’s transition team after Hegseth was named for defence secretary, explaining the circumstances surrounding the allegation. He stated he was unaware of any prior discussions Hegseth had with the team or if they knew about the settlement. In 2017, the woman filed a complaint with the Monterey Police Department, alleging that Hegseth had assaulted her at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa. The Washington Post first reported Hegseth’s payment to the woman and obtained a memo sent to Trump’s transition team from a friend of the accuser. This memo accused Hegseth of raping the conservative group staffer after drinking at the hotel bar. Conversely, Parlatore told CBS that eyewitness testimony and video surveillance indicated the woman was sober and took his arm to lead him upstairs. According to Parlatore, the woman made “false claims” against Hegseth two years after the incident and threatened to sue him, prompting him to send her a cease-and-desist letter in February 2020. Parlatore noted he discovered she had retained legal counsel for her case a year later. Hegseth’s lawyer told CBS News that the settlement payment occurred “a couple [of] years ago” but declined to specify an exact date. Trump’s transition team has stated that the allegation has not led the President-elect to reconsider his nomination for defence secretary. Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, commented, “President Trump is nominating high-calibre and extremely qualified candidates to serve in his administration. Mr Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed.”